Lubricator



Patented Got. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUBRICATORApplication October 8, 1934, Serial No. 747,285 Claims. (Cl. 308-432)This invention relates to lubricators, and more particularly tolubricators that are adapted to utilize fluid lubricant.

' It is among the objects of the present invention to provide alubricator for lubricating a scribed above, and which, in addition,comprehends a lubricant reservoir from which the lubricant does notspill, regardless of the position of the reservoir.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lubricator forlubricating a bearing surface that comprehends a lubricant supplyreservoir, an auxiliary reservoir surrounding at least a portion of thebearing surface, means conducting lubricant from the supply reservoir tothe portion of the bearing surface within the auxiliary reservoir, andmeans effecting substantially unimpeded flow of lubricant from theauxiliary reservoir to the supply reservoir.

It will be understood from the following detailed description that theforegoing objects are accomplished by structures such as thatillustrated which embody two compartments, one of which contains anample supply of lubricant for long use and service, a conduit providingcommunication from the lubricant supply to the other compartment for thepassage of lubricant, said conduit being so located in the lubricantcompartment that a portion of the conduit is above the lubricant levelregardless of the position of the structure, a wick within the conduitfor conducting lubricant from the supply to the other compartment, and apartition in the conduit for preventing the wick from substantiallyimpeding the passage of lubricant from the compartment to the supplythrough the conduit.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a device embodying a preferred form ofthe present invention with a part thereof shown in section; the

section being takensubstantially on the line |-I of Fig. 2 and in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1, and a portion thereof is taken substantially on the line5 2a-2a of Fig.3, both in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a portion of the preferred structure, with partthereof shown in section.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of parts of the preferred form ofstructure.

Referring to the drawing, a member ID, in the present embodiment of theinvention, is an end frame of a dynamo-electric machine. The presentinvention, of course, is not limited to such an application, althoughwell fitted thereto and conveniently illustrated in such an adaptation.Preferably integrally formed with the member ID is a lubricant supplyreservoir I2 that is defined by a curved side wall M, an end wall l6 andan inner wall I 8. An auxiliary chamber or compartment 20 is providedadjacent the lubricant supply reservoir l2, and is defined by walls 22,24, 26 and 28 that are also preferably integral with the member ID. Theinner surface of the walls 24, 2B and 28 is so shaped that inwardlyprojecting portions such as 30 and 32 are provided, which inwardlyprojecting portions define a channel 34 therebe- 30 tween.

A bearing is mounted in the opening that is defined by the inwardlyprojecting portions 30 and 32, so that the channel 34 encircles thebearing. A shaft 38, that is illustrated as hav- 35 ing adynamo-electric machine rotor mounted thereon, is journaled in thebearing 36. The bearing 36 has an opening 42 therethrough thatcommunicates with the channel 34 to provide lubricant communication fromthe channel 34 40 to the bearing surfaces of the bearing 36 and shaft38. The wall 28 has an opening 44 therethrough, and provides a shoulderportion 46 in the opening. An oiler 48 extends through and is secured toa curved washer 50, which washer, in turn fits into the opening 44 sothat it rests against the shoulder 46 to hold the oiler in place. A discor plate 52 is pressed into an opening 54 so that it rests against ashoulder 56, so that it covers the end of the shaft 38 and is spacedtherefrom.

An opening 58 is provided in the wall 26 intermediate the compartment 20and the lubricant supply reservoir l2. A conduit 60 has one end pressedinto the opening 58, and projects into the lubricant supply reservoirl2, preferably to a point near the wall 14, which point is below thenormal lubricant level in the reservoir; this lubricant level beingsubstantially that indicated at 62.

The conduit 66 is preferably an elongated cupshaped member that is openat one end and has a bottom portion 64. An opening 66 is provided in theconduit, and is preferably near the bottom thereof, and preferably toone side of the center of the conduit, since the conduit is preferablymounted to one side of the center of the lubricant supply reservoir, asviewed in Fig. l. A wick 68 is disposed within the conduit, and extendsfrom near the bottom of the conduit to a point such that it overlaps theopening 42 in the bearing 36. A portion ofthe wick extends through theopening 42 and contacts the surface of the shaft 38. The wick 68 ispreferably made of a plurality of strands of absorbent material such ascotton or wool. A member 10, preferably in the form of a strip, andpreferably made of bendable material such as metal, is mounted in theconduit 60 and projects from the end thereof into the compartment 20.This strip 10 confines the wick 58 to a portion of the space within theconduit 60, and preferably has a portion 12 at one end thereof thatprevents the wick 68 from going to the bottom of the conduit 66 and fromcovering the opening 66. A portion 14 at the other end of the member 10is preferably bent so that it engages the wall 28 to hold the member inposition and prevent it from rattling or vibrating; the portion 14 alsoholding the wick in position against the shaft 38.

t is easily understood that by confining the wick to a portion of theinside of the conduit 60, a passage 16 is provided through which a substantially unimpeded flow of lubricant from the compartment 20 to thelubricant supply reservoir is facilitated. This feature aids in thequick and easy introduction of additional lubricant into the reservoir,and provides a drain for the excess lubricant in the compartment 29.

An opening 78 is provided in the wall l6 of the lubricant supplyreservoir, and is preferably located at or near the volumetric center ofthe lubricant supply reservoir, as viewed in Fig. 1. Also, the wall I6is preferably thicker at 80, surrounding the opening l8. In fact, theportion 80 is preferably thick enough that it extends inwardly to apoint near or beyond the volumetric center line of the lubricant supplyreservoir, as viewed in Fig. 2. A passage 82 is provided in the wall l6and extends from the space 84 intermediate the end of the shaft 38 andthe plate 52, to the lubricant supply reservoir. A passage 86 in thewall [8 extends from a recess 88, that surrounds the shaft 38 at the endof the bearing 36 opposite the space 84, to the passage 82. The passage82 serves as a vent and also to conduct lubricant from the space 84 tothe lubricant supply reservoir; while the passage 86 conducts lubricantfrom the recess 88 to the passage 82, and thus to the lubricant supplyreservoir. The end of the passage 82 that opens into the lubricantsupply reservoir is preferably on substantially the same plane as thesimilar end of the passage 18. An opening 90 is provided in the wall l8,and a recessed portion in the wall provides a shoulder 92 surroundingthe opening. A'disc or plate 94 fits into the recessed portion and restsagainst the shoulder 92 to provide a cover and seal for the opening,which cover is lubricant level in the reservoir I2 from being too high.That is, if an excessive amount of lubricant is put into the reservoir,the excess will drain therefrom through the passage 18. However, with anormal or predetermined maximum lubricant level within the reservoir,the lubricant will not spill from the reservoir when it is tipped todifferent positions, because the inner end of the passage 18 is sosituated that upon such tipping in a direction that would effect suchspilling, it remains above that normal or predetermined or maximumlubricant level. The passages 82 and 86 are so arranged that they permitlubricant to drain back into the reservoir from the bearing surfaces,but since the opening of the passage 82 into the reservoir is similarlysituated to that of the passage 18, the prevention of spilling oflubricant through those passages is similarly efiected. The location ofthe opening 66 and the conduit 60, and the provision of suflicient spacein the compartment 20 to retain the lubricant that is normally withinthe conduit 60, prevents the spilling of lubricant from the reservoirwhen the reservoir is tipped so that lubricant would tend to spillthrough the conduit.

Other than the above mentioned advantages, the instant structure permitsthe addition of lubricant to the reservoir without waiting for thatlubricant to soak through, or be absorbed in some wick or absorbentmaterial. The member 10 confines the wick 68 to a portion of the conduitso that lubricant that is introduced through the oiler 48 flows to thelubricant reservoir without being substantially impeded. The member 10also serves the additional purpose of holding the wick against thesurface of the shaft. This insures the lubrication of the shaft as longas the proper lubricant level is maintained. In order to prevent themember 10 from rattling or getting out of place, it preferablylongitudinally engages the wall of the conduit 60 and has a portion 12that is bent so as to tend to hold the member against the conduit wall,as well as to space it from the bottom. Then, the other end engages thewall 28 to prevent longitudinal movement of the member.

From the foregoing description of the structure and mode of operation ofthis lubricator, it is apparent that in one aspect of the invention thestructure comprises chiefly two compartments l2 and 20, one (l2) ofwhich contains a supply of lubricant 62, a conduit 69 providing the solecommunication from the lubricant supply 62 to the other compartment 20,said conduit 69 being so located in the lubricant compartment l2 that aportion of the conduit 60 is above the lubricant level regardless of theposition of the structure, a wick 68 within the conduit 60 forconducting lubricant from the supply 62 to said other compartment 29,and a partition IE! in the conduit 60 for preventing the wick 68 fromsubstantially impeding the passage of lubricant from the compartment 20to the supply through the conduit 60.

Among the advantages of this lubricator is the following:

The lubricator is not only constructed to contain an ample supply oflubricant for long service, to continually supply lubricant to thesurface to be lubricated and to prevent spilling of the lubricant due totipping, but also provides substantially unimpeded flow of lubricantfrom a simple filling oiler to the lubricant chamber and return flowfrom the lubricated surface to the lubricant chamber.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with a device having a surface to be lubricated, alubricant supply reservoir having a supply of lubricant therein, wallsproviding a. compartment adjacent the reservoir, one of the walls havingan opening therein, said compartment surrounding at least a portion ofsaid surface, a conduit mounted in said opening and projecting into thereservoir, a wick within the conduit for conducting lubricant from thereservoir to said surface, and a member within the conduit to confinethe wick to a portion of the space within the conduit, said member beingheld in position at one end by the conduit, and the other end of saidmember abutting one of said walls to prevent movement of the member.

2. In combination with a device having a surface to be lubricated, alubricant supply reservoir having a supply of lubricant therein, wallsproviding a compartment adjacent the reservoir, one of the walls havingan opening therein, said compartment surrounding at least a portion ofsaid surface, a conduit mounted in said opening and projecting into thereservoir, 2. wick within the conduit for conducting lubricant from thereservoir to said surface, and a member within the conduit to confinethe wick to a portion of the space within the conduit, said memberhaving a portion at one end bent so that the member is held in positionwithin the conduit, and the other end of said member having a portionbent to engage one of said walls so that it holds the wick against saidsurface.

3. In a lubricating device including two compartments, one of whichcontains a supply of lubricant, the combination comprehending a conduitproviding the sole communication from the lubricant supply to the othercompartment, said conduit being so located in the lubricant compartmentthat a portion of the conduit is above the lubricant level regardless ofthe position of the device, a wick within the conduit for conductinglubricant from the supply to said other compartment, and a metal strippartition in the conduit for preventing the Wick from substantiallyimpeding the passage of lubricant from the compartment to the supplythrough the conduit.

4. In a lubricating device for a bearing including a main compartmentwhich contains a supply of lubricant and a secondary compartment thatsurrounds at least a portion of the bearing, the combination of aconduit providing the sole communication from the lubricant supply tothe secondary compartment, said conduit being so located in thelubricant compartment that a portion of the conduit is above thelubricant level regardlessof the position of the device, a wick Withinthe conduit for conducting lubricant from the supply to the bearing anda partition within the conduit for confining the Wick to one side of theconduit to provide a substantially open lubricant passage within theconduitfor the flow of lubricant from the secondary compartment to themain compartment.

5. In a lubricating device, the combination comprehending twocompartments, one of which contains a supply of lubricant and the otherof which includes an extension having an orifice that provides the solecommunication from the lubricant supply to said other compartment, saidorifice being so located as to be in the supply only until the deviceassumes a position in which lubricant from the supply tends to gravitatethrough the extension into said other compartment, means within theextension for conducting lubricant from the supply to said othercompartment, and a partition comprising a metal strip in the extensionfor preventing the last mentioned means from substantially impeding thepassage of lubricant from said other compartment to the lubricant supplythrough the extension.

CLEMENT J. ROWE. JUSTIN A. HOCHWALT.

